Depends on the gig. I don't do my theatre show country band gig in t-shirt and jeans, I don't do the classic rock gig in country clothing, and I don't do the twice yearly community choir gig in anything other than sharp looking black.

two fingersOpinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.Gold Supporting Member

I do mostly fill-in stuff these days. So I wear what works for the gig.

Country - jeans, Double H boots, some sort of button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Relaxed attitude. (I refuse to do the current Nashville thing and wear Converse Chucks, skinny jeans, plain black v-neck T and maybe a scarf with a pseudo mohawk.)

Someone posted on TB once that you don't want to look just like your audience, since you're one of the performers. I agree with that. I have about a dozen different "gig shirts" that are not what you would typically see. Tight black t-shirt underneath and slim cut black jeans. Plus, boots:

I don't know about costumes but I very much agree with the statement about dressing better than your audience. Or at least better so as to stand out from them.

I almost never play in a t-shirt only. I'm in a Red Dirt Country band so nice jeans, a classy "show" button up shirt, cowboy hat. Cowboy boots or some other nice boot. I add in some silver jewelry sometimes. And the occasional bandanna tied to a belt loop. Give some movement as I move on stage.

First pic is more typical but I did bust out the snazzy threads at a show a couple years ago.

Section 4, Article 37
Each band is allotted one member that may dress "down" or "up" contrary to prescribed image. Drummers are excluded from this provision, as they may wear gym shorts to prevent the bus from smelling like a monkey cage on the drive to the next town.

Section 4, Article 38
For each level of flash the front man or guitarist with mystique dresses, each successive member of the band may dress one order of magnitude lower.

I agree with the idea of dressing at a different level than the audience. That is not meant as a slam to the audience. They are there to have fun and can dress as they please. However, if I'm dressed slightly different than they are, there is an unspoken understanding that I am there for a different purpose. And that purpose is to entertain.(with the side benefit of the fact that I love what I'm doing)

I've done fill in work in church (I'm not Christian) but I wore a pair of Black Slacks, White Shirt, and Jerry Garcia Tie (if I have to wear a tie then I'll stay true to my Hippie Roots) with my Buddhist Mala underneath it (interesting fact there are 108 beads on a Catholic Rosary and 108 Beads on a Buddhist Mala). I've done Hippie Jam Gigs with a Black Wife Beater, a Kilt (flown true Scott Style), and Doc Martens.

Nice jeans + clean tshirt (of an influential band to me) here. Simple, easy, doesn't get in the way, looks decent. Both my groups play original material, I'd think that "dressing up" would be rather more important for a cover band (unless it's an originals group deliberately trying to promote a very specific image).